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27 - Jackie Jessup (ACU)
Rita Willhite
6
Houston Christian HCU 4-4
10
Winner Abilene Christian ACU 4-6
Houston Christian HCU
4-4
6
Final
10
Abilene Christian ACU
4-6
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Houston Christian HCU 1 0 2 2 1 0 0 6 8 1
Abilene Christian ACU 2 0 1 0 0 2 5 10 9 0

W: Neilsen, Talia (2-1) L: Janes, Katy (1-1)

Game Recap: Softball |

SB: Huskies halted by Wildcats late rally in finale of ACU Tournament

Walk-off grand slam wins it for ACU; busy week of action ahead for HCU



ABILENE, Texas --- Houston Christian University carried a 6-3 lead to the bottom of the sixth but Abilene Christian University erupted for seven runs over the final two frames, including a walk-off grand slam that handed the Huskies a 10-6 loss in the finale of the ACU Tournament at Poly Wells Field in Abilene on Sunday afternoon.
 
HCU got on the board first in the first, as Haylie Savage launched her first homer of the season, a bomb to straightaway center over the batter's eye, giving the Huskies an early 1-0 lead.
 
ACU would respond in the bottom of the frame, getting two runs with two outs. Avery Miloch laced a double to center to score Sammie Shelander and Emma Rote who had both singled.
 
In the third, the Huskies would recapture the lead, pushing two runs across on three hits. Juls Garcia led off with a single to left and stole second base. She then came around on another knock by Savage, a double to the gap in right-center that tied the score at two apiece. Jasie Roberts then followed with a missile back up the middle, a single that scored Savage for a 3-2 advantage.
 
The Wildcats would scratch across a run in the bottom of the third. After back-to-back walks, Shelander grounded into a double-play, but Emma Rote would pick her up with a triple to the corner in right, scoring pinch-runner Karli Manney for the hosts third tally of the game.
 
HCU would hang a crooked number on the board for the second straight inning in the fourth. Maddy Bailey walked and moved to second on a sac bunt by Kaicey Hagler. Jackie Jessup then doubled to left, plating Bailey to be the Huskies back in front. One batter later, AB Garcia would lace a double to the gap in left center, scoring Jessup for the second run of the frame and a 5-3 advantage.
 
Another run would get tacked on in the fifth, as Jasie Roberts tripled to right center, and was immediately brought in on a deep sacrifice fly from Maggie Childs, doubling the lead for the Huskies.
 
ACU would get that run right back in the bottom of the frame, as Shelander launched a home run to right center. The Wildcats then pushed across another on an RBI single by Miranda Lista to center that scored pinch-runner Teiah Keliiholokai, cutting the lead to 6-5. Katy Janes would get out of the inning by getting Skylar Padgett to pop out to Roberts right on the dish at home plate.
 
The game would move to the bottom of the seventh, and Olivia Marble got things going for the hosts with a single through the left side. Kaydee Bennett was then hit by a pitch, bringing an end to the day of HCU starter Katy Janes. Isabel Martinez would reach on an error, allowing Marble to score and tie things up at six apiece.
 
Sherlander struck out for the first out of the inning, but Rote followed with a walk to load the bases. Avery Miloch then cranked a deep drive to left center for a walk-off grand slam for the Wildcats, completing the five-run seventh.
 
Haylie Savage, Jasie Roberts and Juls Garcia each collected two hits for the Huskies. Savage hit her first homer of the season and drove in two, while Roberts got her second triple of the season to go with an RBI.
 
Janes suffered the loss despite a solid outing in the circle. She scattered eight hits and seven runs while walking two and fanning seven.
 
Miloch's game-winning homer capped off a 3-4, six RBI day. Sherlander went 2-4 with a homer and Rote was 2-3. Talia Neilsen got the victory with 3.2 innings of three-hit, one-run relief for the Wildcats, who move to 4-6 overall.
 
The Huskies finish the ACU Tournament 2-3, evening their overall record at 4-4 on the season. A busy stretch of action begins on Wednesday as HCU plays five games over five days, with just Friday as a day off.
 
HCU travels to Austin to take on the No. 3 ranked University of Texas Longhorns. First pitch on Wednesday at Red and Charlene McCombs Field is set for 5 pm.
 
Following the game at UT, the Huskies will open a four-game homestand, featuring the home opener on Thursday against North Dakota, and the Husky Classic over the weekend.
 
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